Blazers without Oden again vs. Timberwolves

The Trail Blazers will be without Oden once again on Friday when
they wrap up a three-game road trip against the Minnesota
Timberwolves.

After winning three straight games, Portland has dropped its
last two games, to the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs.

All five contests have come without Oden, who chipped his left
kneecap when he collided with Warriors forward Corey Maggette
during a 105-98 loss at Golden State on February 12.

The top pick in the 2007 draft out of Ohio State, Oden missed
all of last season following microfracture surgery on his right
knee and this seems to be another setback.

Oden ran during the team's light workout on Thursday in
Minneapolis. Blazers coach Nate McMillan was not optimistic
after watching Oden run and ruled him out for Friday.

Oden also could miss Sunday's game against San Antonio.

"It didn't look good to me," McMillan told the Oregonian at the
team's shootaround Friday. "I just ... it didn't look good to
me. It didn't look like he had his natural stride. Looking at
that, I don't see him being ready for Sunday after what I saw
yesterday."

Luckily for the Blazers, the Timberwolves have also been
struggling and enter the contest on a four-game losing streak
that includes a 120-103 drubbing by the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.